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September 2, 2025
The Paper Of Record for Fannin County Texas
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Fannin County deputy celebrates 50 years in law enforcement
By Olivia Thompson Published: Aug. 26, 2025 Courtesy Photo FANNIN COUNTY, Texas (KXII) - This month, a man from Denison celebrated 50 years in law enforcement. He began this year as the new chief deputy of the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office,
but that’s only part of his story. In 1975, Mike Ditto joined the Bells Police Department for a year and a half as a rookie cop, but his passion and diligence exceeded far beyond his own imagination. “I had no idea I would be here this long. I was imagin-
ing myself 20 to 25 years and out, but that just wasn’t in the cards,” Ditto said. After Bells, Ditto worked for the Sherman Police Department as an investigator for over 25 years under different supervisors. He said it set the tone for the kind of leader he aspired to be, and
07/02/19
uncertainty is what kept him going. He then went on to work
briefly for the Grayson College Police Department and do contract work for the
U.S. Marshal Service. Then, Fannin County Sheriff Cody Shook called Ditto with a job offer fit for his experience. “Well first, I wondered if he had the right guy,” Ditto said. “Its been going very well. Its been a learning curve for a lot of us. Actually, I’ve never done this job before, but I think we’re making a positive impact on the department and the county.” As for what case sticks with him the most, Ditto said it’s easily the 2004 murder of Laura Thomas and her two children by the hands of Andre Thomas in Sherman, who’s on death row today. It’s these calls that test anyone in law enforcement’s commitment, and that’s just what Ditto says the next generation of officers will need. “You have to want to serve the public and not accept a whole lot of pay for it I guess,” said Ditto. Ditto has been chief deputy for eight months and said the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office has a lot of growth in store, including its size and the amount of training for deputies.
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